Open land

[King Thedriol]

Much of the Castle's estate is made up of wide open spaces, from fields as golden as those that surround the city to those that are lush and green. Excellent ground for riding across, the King can often be seen on a hunting party across the fields.

[Rose]

As Rose rode out across the open land, she began wondering exactly what she was going to do here in Calamere. It would be nice to live in the city, not too far from her home in Elidwen, but far enough for a bit of independence.
"Perhaps I should get a job?" she wondered out loud to herself.

Birds spiralled squawking into the air not far from where she had halted. She pulled the reins tight as she heard another shot and then excited barking in the distance. Hunting. Rose hated the sport more than anything else in the world. It was cruel and inhumane, she could understand why people would hunt for food, that was life, but for fun? She could feel the blind panic of the animals in the wood overwhelming her.

Summoning all the willpower she possessed, she bit her lip and turned an agitated Whisper around. Leaning forwards, with her hair streaming behind her she galloped back the way she had come at full speed, lest she changed her mind. When she was far enough away, she slowed down to a comfortable trot
"What a great start to the day!" she grumbled, then with a sigh she dismounted and stretched her legs.
"Well, we won't let it ruin our day, will we?" she said, with a half hearted smile to Whisper. He snorted and shook his mane, unsure of whom she was trying to convince!

((when I say shot, I mean arrow shot, not gun shot. Just thought I'd clear that up ))

[Arikain Galarond]

Arikain rode swiftly back over the fields, his dark hair fluttering like a flag in the breeze. He was hot and sweaty from his training, and he wanted to return to the Castle as quickly as possible. he looked blissfully out across the golden fields, rolling away before him in a gleaming carpet. he yawned, tired.

He was at the far end of the field when he suddenly caught sight of another lone rider. The horse seemed to be panicking, and so Arikain wheeled Eryn, his own battlehorse, around and galloped in the other rider's direction.

Drawing nearer he saw that it was a woman, looking more than a little worried.
"Ex-excuse me," He hailed her, smiling slightly. Is everything alright?"

Very aware that he looked a sight from his trainging, and probably smelled quite ripe to go with it, he embarrassedly waited for the lady to reply.

[Rose]

"Oh... I'm quite alright, thank-you." Rose replied politely, patting down her hair that still looked similar to when she was galloping at full speed across the fields. She looked up at the young man on his horse and paused, not knowing quite what to say.
"The scenery's lovely out here isn't it" she said finally, gazing past him and across the patchwork of fields. She remounted Whisper who walked beside the mans Battlehorse,

"I'm Rose by the way" she said and held out a hand to him. It was nice of him to come see if she was alright and she had already almost forgotten her annoyance with the hunters. She tucked a flyaway strand of hair behind her ear,
"Are you heading back towards the city?" she asked

[Arikain Galarond]

Kain took her hand. "I'm Arikain.. I'm sorry if I bothered you," He added quickly, "You looked like you needed some help. And yes, it is very beautiful. Although I only just arrived, so I haven't seen much of it yet." He paused and lookd at the girl. She had soft brown hair that fell in waves to her shoulders, and her eyes seemed to spark with energy, the colour of the green field to their left. He patted Eryn on her rump, and the big horse whickered softly.

"I will probably go down to the city later," he said, "But... I've just been training with the army, and I think I might go and change first..." He looked embarrassedly down at himself, his shirt dirty and ripped in several places. Hardly the look of a warrior.

OOC - I used the description from your profile to write about what you looked like, I hope that's OK!

[Rose]

"Oh, I'm new here too, I only arrived yesterday" said Rose as she rode towards the castle,
"Everyone who I've met so far have been very helpful, the city's so big- it's easy to get lost." she smiled slightly and looked across at Eryn, watching her muscles flex when she broke into a trot. Shee was a very powerful battlehorse.

"So, which section of the army are you training in?" asked Rose, quickly glancing at the rips in Arikain's shirt. She knew nothing of armies and fighting, although she was aware that they existed as a vital part of life.
"I assume you're staying at the castle..." she said, as she watched it growing larger as the city's buildings came into view and the turrets of the castle speared the horizon. She turned her head slightly, and watched Arikain waiting for a reply.

[OOC: don't worry, it was a v. good description ]

[Arikain Galarond]

"Well... If I'm truthful you're the first person I've met, aside from the King." Arikain admitted. "But it's good to know that the people here are friendly." His eyes brightened a little as Rose mentioned the army. "I'm training in the cavalry," he said eagerly, "But I've only just started. One day, I hope to become a Captain, or even a Commander... Are you a member?" He asked.

He turned Eryn around to face the castle, a small stony building on the horizon. "Yes, I think I will stay in the Castle. Do you have a place to stay? As a member of the army, I'm sure I'm allowed a guest. We could find you a room, if you wanted... Should we head back that way now?" He ran a hand through his matted hair, and sighed forlornly as he thought once again of the state his clothes were in. He hoped that once he returned to the Castle he could find something to wear.

OOC - thanks! Well, I guess that's OK then

[Rose]

Rose smiled, she should have guessed he was in the cavalry, what with a horse like Eryn. Arikain seemed to have a real passion for the army, she could tell from his voice when he spoke eagerly about his training.
"No, I'm not in the army." she replied, " To be honest, I don't know how to use any weapons! I suppose my magic is my only weapon. I don't suppose I'd be much good at fighting anyway..." she pulled Whisper to a stop as they reached the castle walls, and turned him to face Arikain.

" I was planning to stay at the inn in the city, I don't think that I'd be allowed to stay at the castle..." she trailed off, then added in a softer voice,"I'm not nobility or a friend of the king..."
However much my parents try to convince themselves otherwise... she thought bitterly to herself...

She looked up at Arikain, who seemed to be looking slightly worried at the state ofhis clothes, she said, with a brighter expression on her face:

"Anyway, I'll leave you to get changed and...maybe we could meet up in the city later, to explore a bit, if you want to?"

[Arikain Galarond]

"That sounds great!" Kain said enthusiastically. "And, if you ever want to learn anything about weaponry, I'd only be too glad to help." He paused. "And... well, my offer stands, if you need a place to stay." He shrugged. "I get three or four rooms to myself, so it isn't like I don't have the room to spare."

Nodding to Rose, he leapt off Eryn and began to lead her away. He stopped, as if remembering something, and said, "Where would you klike to meet?"

[Rose]

[OOC: I didn't realise Eryn was a girl, Sorry!!! I've changed my posts...]

"How about outside the inn?" asked Rose, "It's where I'll be staying for the time being, I'll meet you outside in a few hours so you have enough time to get changed and grab something to eat. But thank you for your offer; I might reconsider when I see my room at the inn!" she joked, "Well, I'll see you later..."

She remounted Whisper and rode back towards the city, waiting until she was a good distance from the castle before looking back over her shoulder. She couldn't see Arikain.

[Arikain Galarond]

"Of course." Arikain smiled. He watched Rose until she was out of sight - just in case anythng whould happen, although from what he could assess of her character he wasn't entirely sure how welcome his help would be - and then turned Eryn around and rode speedily into the Castle.

At least next time he saw the girl, he would look presentable.

((OOC: no matter! t's not that important, she's just a horse ;p))